PHASE IA LITERATURE REVIEW AND ARCHEOLOGICAL SENSITIVITY ASSESSMENT PROPOSED PEEKSKILL SOUTHERN WATERFRONT CITY OF PEEKSKILL WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NEW YORK HAA 4026-11 Submitted to: SYNTHESIS, LLP 162 JAY STREET P.O. BOX 383 SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK 12301 Prepared by: HARTGEN ARCHEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATES, INC. CERTIFIED WBE/DBE 1744 WASHINGTON AVENUE EXTENSION RENSSELAER, NEW YORK 12144 PHONE (518) 283-0534 FAX (518) 283-6276 email: [email protected] www.hartgen.com AN ACRA MEMBER www.acra-crm.org NOVEMBER 2007 Phase IA Archeological Sensitivity Assessment, Peekskill Southern Waterfront, Westchester Co . MANAGEMENT SUMMARY SHPO Project Review Number: n/a Involved State and Federal Agencies: currently ACOE, NYS DEC, City of Peekskill Phase of Survey: IA Location Information Location: Hudson River Minor Civil Division: City of Peekskill (11945) County: Westchester Survey Area Length: approximately 8,000 feet (2,438 m) Width: n/a Number of Acres: approximately 52 USGS 7.5 Minute x 15 Minute Quadrangle Map: Peekskill Results of Research Sites within one mile: 3 (one historic/two precontact) Surveys in vicinity: 5 within and adjacent to NR/NRE sites in or adjacent: 3 less than 1,000 feet away Precontact Sensitivity: moderate to high Historic Sensitivity: moderate to high for mid-19th to 20th century industrial sites Recommendations: see Recommendations section of text Riverfront Green South: Phase IB archeological field reconnaissance to test for the presence or absence of archeological sites is recommended for any areas that will be impacted to depths below current ground surface. Riverfront Green South: No Phase IB testing is recommended for this area. Travis Cove: If the walkway is placed along the shoreline through this entire segment of the project area Phase IB testing is not recommended since this area is all bedrock and recent fill. If the walkway is routed around the east side of the yacht club and impacts will be to a depth below the current ground surface, Phase IB testing should be conducted to assess the presence or absence of archeological sites on the top of Charles Point. RESCO: If impacts for the walkway are confined to the shoreline, Phase IB testing is not recommended in this area. Proposed developments along the shoreline or pier should avoid impacting the historic wooden pillars associated with Fleischmann Pier. In the event that the walkway impacts are along the top of Charles Point in the Wheelabrator property, and those impacts extend below ground surface, Phase IB testing may be necessary. Lents Cove: If the depth of impact in this area does not extend below current ground surface, no Phase IB will be necessary. Report Authors: Rebecca Glazer and Tracy Shaffer Miller Date of Report: November 26, 2007 Hartgen Archeological Associates, Inc. November 2007 Phase IA Archeological Sensitivity Assessment, Peekskill Southern Waterfront, Westchester Co. i TABLE OF CONTENTS PHASE IA SENSITIVITY ASSESSMENT ......................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................ 1 PROJECT INFORMATION ............................................................................................................................... 1 Location and Description ........................................................................................................................ 1 Area of Potential Effect .......................................................................................................................... 1 ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION ............................................................................................................... 2 Topography and Bedrock Geology ......................................................................................................... 2 Soils and Drainage .................................................................................................................................. 2 Vegetation and Forest Zone .................................................................................................................... 3 DOCUMENTARY RESEARCH .......................................................................................................................... 4 Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) and New York State Museum (NYSM) ................................................................................................................................................... 4 Archeological Sites ..................................................................................................................... 4 State and National Registers ...................................................................................................... 5 Previous Surveys ........................................................................................................................ 5 PRECONTACT AND HISTORIC OVERVIEW ................................................................................................ 6 Historical Map Review ........................................................................................................................... 7 Riverfront Green Park ................................................................................................................ 7 Riverfront Green South .............................................................................................................. 8 Travis Cove ................................................................................................................................ 8 RESCO ....................................................................................................................................... 8 Lents Cove .................................................................................................................................. 8 SITE VISIT .......................................................................................................................................................... 9 Riverfront Green Park ........................................................................................................................... 9 Riverfront Green South .......................................................................................................................... 9 Travis Cove ............................................................................................................................................. 9 RESCO .................................................................................................................................................... 9 Lents Cove ............................................................................................................................................ 10 ARCHEOLOGICAL SENSITIVITY ................................................................................................................ 10 Precontact Archeological Sensitivity .................................................................................................... 10 Historical Archeological Sensitivity ...................................................................................................... 10 Historic Waterfront Construction ............................................................................................. 10 Disturbance in the APE ........................................................................................................................ 11 RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................................................................... 11 Riverfront Green Park ......................................................................................................................... 11 Riverfront Green South ........................................................................................................................ 12 Travis Cove ........................................................................................................................................... 12 RESCO .................................................................................................................................................. 12 Lents Cove ............................................................................................................................................ 12 BIBLIOGRAPHY .............................................................................................................................................. 13 MAPS PHOTOGRAPHS APPENDIX 1: Previous Survey Information APPENDIX 2: OPRHP Project Review Cover Form Hartgen Archeological Associates, Inc. November 2007 ii Phase IA Archeological Sensitivity Assessment, Peekskill Southern Waterfront, Westchester Co. Map List 1. 1981 USGS Peekskill 7.5’ Topographic Quadrangle 2. 2007 HAA, Inc. Project Map on 2004 Orthoimagery from the NYS Office of Cyber Security and Critical Infrastructure Coordination 3. 2006 USDA Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) for Westchester County, New York 4. 1858 Merry Map of Westchester County, New York. 5a. 1868 Beers Atlas of New York and Vicinity inset of Peekskill showing Northern Portion of Project Area 5b. 1868 Beers Atlas of New York and Vicinity 6a. 1881 Bromley Atlas of Westchester County, New York inset of Peekskill showing Northern Portion of Project Area 6b. 1881 Bromley